How do you convince a creditor to remove late payments?

Asked by: Dr. Isabelle Koch MD  |  Last update: June 13, 2025
Score: 4.9/5 (32 votes)

Ask the lender to remove it with a goodwill letter In some cases, creditors are willing to make a goodwill adjustment if your payment history has been good or if you have a good relationship with them. The process is easy: simply write a letter to your creditor explaining why you paid late.

What do you say to a creditor to remove late payments?

I truly believe that it doesn't reflect my creditworthiness and commitment to repaying my debts. It would help me immensely if you could give me a second chance and make a goodwill adjustment to remove the late [payment/payments] on [date/dates]. Thank you for your consideration, and I hope you'll approve my request.

How do I get my lender to remove late payments?

You can request the change in two ways:
  1. Call your lender on the phone and ask to have the payment deleted. The first person you talk with most likely will not be able to help you. ...
  2. Write a letter and ask for a removal.

What is a 609 letter to remove late payments?

A 609 letter won't erase valid negative marks like late payments, defaults, or collections if the information has been verified and is correct. Additionally, 609 letters won't relieve you of your obligation to repay any existing debt.

Can you ask a credit card company to forgive late payments?

A goodwill letter is a formal letter sent to a creditor, lender or collection agency to request forgiveness for a late payment or other negative item on your credit report. In the letter, you typically: Explain the circumstances that led to the late payment or issue.

How To Remove Late Payments From Credit Report Like A PRO!

37 related questions found

Can you call credit card company to remove late payments?

You can't remove accurately reported late payments from your credit report. You can only get a late payment removed from your credit report if it was reported in error.

How to get forgiveness on late payments?

The process is easy: simply write a letter to your creditor explaining why you paid late. Ask them to forgive the late payment and assure them it won't happen again. If they do agree to forgive the late payment, your creditor should adjust your credit report accordingly.

What is a 623 dispute letter?

A 623 dispute letter is a written communication submitted to a credit bureau, typically by a consumer, to dispute inaccuracies or discrepancies in their credit report.

When should I ask for a late payment removal from creditor?

If you act quickly by paying within 30 days of the original due date, a late payment will generally not be recorded on your credit reports. After 30 days, you can only remove falsely reported late payments. It's a good idea to regularly check your credit scores and reports.

What is a 6 o 9 letter for debt collection?

A 609 dispute letter is a formal request sent to credit bureaus to verify the accuracy of the information on your credit report. The name “609” comes from Section 609 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which grants you the right to request this information.

Are late payments hard to remove?

If there's an incorrect late payment on your credit reports, you can file a dispute with the creditor or the corresponding credit bureau to try and get the mark removed. But if the late payment is correct, you should know you probably won't be able to get rid of the derogatory mark before its time.

How do you explain late payments to a lender?

When explaining a delay in payment, honesty and transparency are key. Begin by acknowledging the missed deadline and express your commitment to resolving the situation. Clearly state the reason for the delay, whether it's a financial discrepancy, processing error, or unforeseen circumstances.

How to dispute a credit report and win?

You should dispute with each credit bureau that has the mistake. Explain in writing what you think is wrong, include the credit bureau's dispute form (if they have one), copies of documents that support your dispute, and keep records of everything you send.

How do I ask my lender to remove late payments?

Here are two of your most viable options to remove late payments from your credit report:
  1. Call Your Credit Card Issuer and Ask Them to Take the Late Payments Off Your Credit Report. ...
  2. Write a Goodwill Letter to the Creditor Explaining Why You Haven't Made Timely Payments.

What is a goodwill adjustment?

A goodwill credit adjustment is a request to remove valid delinquencies or otherwise negative payment history from a credit report.

How to write a letter to get a late payment removed?

How to write a goodwill letter
  1. Offer an apology and be as sincere as possible.
  2. Express your gratitude to the creditor for the services they have provided you.
  3. Make sure that you include the reason why you missed the payment.
  4. State your case as eloquently as possible.

How to ask for late payment forgiveness template?

I'm writing because I noticed your company reported a late payment in [Date of late payment] on my credit reports. I am requesting a goodwill adjustment to remove this late payment from my TransUnion, Experian and Equifax credit reports. Upon review of my records, I realize that I did indeed miss the payment deadline.

Can you have a 700 credit score with late payments?

It may also characterize a longer credit history with a few mistakes along the way, such as occasional late or missed payments, or a tendency toward relatively high credit usage rates. Late payments (past due 30 days) appear in the credit reports of 33% of people with FICO® Scores of 700.

How do I ask my creditor to remove a collection?

Call or write to the collection agency asking to have the account deleted as a gesture of goodwill. The collection agency doesn't have to comply, but there's no harm in asking. You may have better luck getting a goodwill deletion if you have a history of on-time payments to the original creditor.

What is a 611 credit letter?

The 611 dispute letter is a follow-up letter when a credit agency replies that they have verified the mentioned information. It requests the agency's verification method of the disputed information and refers to 611 Section of the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

What is the FCRA 623 law?

Section 623(e). The FCRA prohibits information furnishers from providing information to a CRA that they know or have reasonable cause to believe is inaccurate.

How do I write a letter to the credit bureau to remove debt?

Your letter should clearly identify each item in your report you dispute, state the facts, explain why you dispute the information, and request that it be removed or corrected. You may want to enclose a copy of your credit report with the items in question circled.

Is it hard to get late payments removed?

Late payments usually stay on your credit report for seven years, but you might be able to get them removed if they're incorrect. If you have a positive credit history, one late payment won't be the end of it – but it's important to catch up and not miss any more.

What is the debt forgiveness rule?

In simple terms, the debt forgiveness rules apply when a “commercial debt obligation” has been settled for an amount that is less than the full amount owing (i.e., the “forgiven amount”). A commercial debt obligation is generally a debt obligation on which interest, if charged, is deductible in computing income.

Is it true that after 7 years your credit is clear?

Most negative items should automatically fall off your credit reports seven years from the date of your first missed payment, at which point your credit score may start rising. But if you are otherwise using credit responsibly, your score may rebound to its starting point within three months to six years.